Severe weather continues to impact the Central Coast causing heavy rainfall, localised flooding, dangerous ocean conditions and increased flooding overnight with many residents in low lying areas requiring evacuation.Council continues to work alongside all local emergency agencies with the Emergency Operations Centre activated, with NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) leading the response.Thank you to all of the many volunteers with local SES, RFS and other support services that are providing invaluable assistance to keep our community safe – they have been in the conditions at all hours rescuing, door knocking, removing dangerous items and providing resources to isolated community members.Council staff are working around the clock to closely monitor local roads, waterways, beaches, water and sewer systems, and other essential services with crews attending to any impacts.Community members are still being urged to remain vigilant, exercise extra caution on roads, and are reminded to never enter or drive through flood waters.For the latest weather warnings and conditions go to the Bureau of Meteorology website. For emergency help in floods and storms, call NSW SES on 132 500.

The public exhibition period for the Draft Design Requirements for Terminal Protection Works at Wamberal Beach to address coastal erosion closes on 27 July 2022.

Central Coast athletes, including previous gold and silver medal winners, from a variety of sporting disciplines are on their way to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart congratulated the athletes, many of whom are graduates of the Central Coast Academy of Sport or who have come through the Academy’s Future Stars program.“We are so proud of these athletes who have dedicated so much of their lives to be the best they can possibly be in their selected sport,” Mr Hart said.Australia will be taking its largest overseas contingent of Commonwealth Games athletes ever to this month’s Birmingham Games.Competing athletes from the Central Coast include backstroke champion Brad Woodward who started swimming at Mingara Swim Club, did Nippers at Shelly Beach, worked as a Council Lifeguard at age 17, and is still a volunteer Surf Lifesaver with Shelly Beach Surf Club. Brad won both silver and gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, and at Birmingham will be competing in the 100m and 200m backstroke events.Matthew Dawson from Killarney Vale, a member of the Australian Men’s Hockey Team, the Kookaburras, will be representing Australia again, having also competed at the 2018 Games.

The recent severe weather event that hit the Central Coast this month, has seen the biggest flood on Tuggerah Lakes since 1949 and the biggest flood on the Hawkesbury River in the last 100 years.Council staff worked closely alongside the NSW State Emergency Service, coordinating activities from the Emergency Operations Centre at Charmhaven.  The Central Coast local government area is included in the NSW Government’s Natural Disaster Declaration announced on Tuesday 5 July 2022, meaning people in our community who have been affected by this severe weather and flooding event can access a range of special assistance measures.Council and flood evacuation impacted residents are now well into recovery and clean-up efforts, and this is expected to take some time.  I would like to thank all of the staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly during the weather event and the recovery.

Flood evacuation orders for all Central Coast areas have now been removed and all flooding is back below minor flood levels.

The severe weather event driven by a powerful east coast low which drenched the Central Coast this week has begun moving off the coast, easing rainfall and allowing impacted residents to turn their sights toward the recovery and clean-up effort. Council is leading the recovery efforts and working closely alongside Resilience NSW to support the community through this clean-up, while continuing its work alongside the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) and other emergency agencies to support those still isolated or evacuated.Despite rainfall easing, flooding remains current at multiple locations around Tuggerah Lakes and the Lower Hawkesbury River.

Central Coast dam levels have reached a record breaking high – with the Upper Mooney Dam and Mangrove Creek Dam at full capacity due to ongoing heavy rainfall.Central Coast Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said this is the first time Mangrove Creek Dam has reached full capacity since construction was completed in 1982.“This storage increase places the Central Coast water supply in a secure position for years to come,” Mr Loader said.“While the overflow from the Mangrove Creek Dam will contribute to the level of the already flooded rivers, it is a relatively low rate and small in comparison to existing catchment flows.

Central Coast Council has won the Sport NSW Local Council of the Year Community Sports Award, which recognises contributions to the community in sport and active recreation.The Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of community coaches, officials, administrators, organisations and local councils of the past year.Central Coast Council was described as continuing to deliver innovative approaches to participation, access and inclusion and promotion of local sport and active recreation.Council’s Unit Manager, Open Space and Recreation, Brett Sherar said the Award is a recognition of the outstanding efforts of many individuals and teams across Council.“Our submission to the Awards highlighted the many ways we collaborate with local clubs, associations, and partners to not only promote our region's variety of sport and active recreation providers, but also connect our community with sports matching their own wants, needs, abilities and interests," Mr Sherar said.“Significantly, despite enduring the highest number of COVID lockdown days outside Greater Sydney, Council provided over 34,000 opportunities for our community to engage in sport and recreation through the delivery of programs, lessons, initiatives, social sports sessions and the hosting of over 700 events across community, elite and professional sports.“Council also provided opportunities for local sporting clubs or associations to receive support to implement adjustments to make their sport or active recreation programs more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities, with five local associations receiving assistance to provide modified equipment or deliver accessible programs in our community."Mr Sherar added that Council’s investment into infrastructure and facilities which promote active lifestyles for all, including a combined $16m upgrade of 16 local sportsgrounds and facilities for netball, swimming, skating and amenities for all abilities, was also recognised.“Council is committed to supporting all community members to have access to open spaces and recreational activities and supporting healthy lifestyles here on the Central Coast," Mr Sherar said.ENDSCentral Coast Council's Community Sports Award Win, (L-R) Mick Dennis, Brett Sherar, Adam Kidd, Jodie Frost-Foster, David Norbury

Council is urging the community to remain vigilant as major flooding remains within the Tuggerah Lakes and Hawkesbury River regions, despite rainfall easing Thursday morning after heavy downpours overnight.

We have produced a Delivery Program that has been out for public consultation and incorporates all the changes as a result of IPART’s (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal) recent decisions to continue the Special Variation for a total of a further 9 years and the regulated water, sewer and stormwater drainage fees and charges for the next 4 years.  Even with these changes, our average rates overall continue to be approximately ten percent less than the neighbouring regions of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.The Operational Plan for 22-23 reflects expenditure greater than originally forecasted, but this has been able to be accommodated due to the much larger than budgeted, projected surplus for the 21-22 financial year.  This means we are responding to community feedback and have allocated extra resources for planning assessment, local roads and vegetation maintenance.